Sausage-linking machine.



L. REISFELD I n. G. REICHMAN.

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED I`10V.25. I9I6. I

.IIII

Ii SIIEEIS SHEEI I.

L REISFELD e D. G. BEICHMAN. SUSAGE LINKING MACHINE. APPLlcAloN HL'ED Nov. 25. |916. v 'Y Patented Feb. 2o, .1919.

LREISFELD a n. G. REICHMAN. SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE.l

l APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25.19I6. v

, l,295,2 Patented Feb. 2o, 1919.

B SHEETS-SHEE 5.

L. REISFELD & D. G. REICHMAN.

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 25. 19H3.

lBatented Feb. 25, 1919.v

8 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

lll/lll...k ILlllllIll L. REISFELD@ n. 6. BEICHMAN. SAUSAGE LINKIN? MACHINE.

l APPLICATION mm Num/.25| 9W 9 y .y l

Pefented Feb. 1919.l

LOUIS REISFELD AND DAVIDG. EEICHMAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO SAMUEL LADAN'YIy OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

vSAUS A(.rE-LINKING' MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 25, 1919'.

Application filed November 25, 1916. Serial Io. 133,318.

zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, inthe county of Cook. and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Sausage-Linking Ma4- chines, of Which the following is a specification. A

- This invention relates to automatic linking machines for linking sausages and the i like, and its purpose is to provide improved apparatus for operatinggupon a stuffed sausage casing and 'forming the same into a series of connected andpermanently sepae rated links.

It is now the common practice 11i the manufacture of link sausages to 'form the stuffed casing into a series of permanent links lby squeezing the casing at intervals With thel fingers, and then manually twirling the links,

.in order to eil'ect va permanent separat-ion thereof. The mechanical apparatus which has been provided heretofore for performing this operation has usually been unsatisfactory. yIt is, therefore,'the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved machine adapted .to receive astuifed sausage lcasing and form the same into aseries of permanently separated links without the aid of manual mani'pulationof the sausage, or manual control of the machine in its operation. Another object is to provide an improved linking machine which will compress orconstrict the sausage casing at intervals to form the same into links', and which will twii'l or twist alternate links .in order to effect a permanent separation of the links of the series.

An important object of the present invention is to provide improved means` for torining a stuffed sausage casing oi' varying thickness into a series of links, preferably of equalv length, in combination with improved means foi" twirliug the links ot' varying thickness without injury to the casing of the sausage. In machinesheretofore provided Jfor this purpose, the tivirling mechanism has had a fixed path *ofl movement and has been positively actuated to engage sausages ot' a single site; this arrangement has been a serious disadvantage since it is desirable to use a single machine for harmingl link Ameans is not in operation. Vture relates to improved means 'for feeding sausages of different sizes, and a single stuffed sausage casing usually varies in thickness from point to lpoint throughout its length, so that the twirling mechanism as heretofore constructed either failed to engage the vsausage' to eiect the twirling operation or exerted too great a pressure upon the stu'li'ed casing, thereby breaking and tearing the same and permitting. the contents to esc-ape. These diiiiculties are overcome in the apparatus of the present nven-v tion by providing delicately balanced and adjusted tivirling devices, Which are moved automatically at proper intervals until they engage theV sausage casing With suiicient pressure to effect the twirling operation, re-

gardless ot the thickness of the link to be twirled, Without injuring the casing of the sausage.

with means for rendering the feeding means' inoperative at intervals, andmeans for constrictingthe sausage casing and twirling 'the links during the period .when thefeeding A further feathe stued casing through the machine so that 'the links will be of uniform length, and a uniform movement of the sausage Will be maintained without injury to the casing. A further object is to provide a machine of the class described comprising improved means for automatically cleaning the same during its operation. Still another feature is the provision ot improved means for automatically operating the feeding, compressing, and tivirling means. A further feature relates to the provision of an intermittentlyoperating feeding means, in combination with means Jfor compressing the stui'ed sausage casing while the feeding means is at rest, means for holding the casing at each sidev of' a link formed during a preceding A further feature is the provil sion ofresiliently mounted twirling devices ,adapted to engage, with the proper degree of pressure, sausage links of substantially any sizeand in combination With this iin- 1oL 'ing the period of time occupied during the cycle Aby each olf 4the operations performed *ratos in elevation;

'operai-.ion of the compressing means. and

means for twirling the lsstsmentioned 1nter!M mediate link. A further feature is to provide improved means for veryingthe speed of the compressing and. twirling means relef Vtively to the 'speed of *the feeding means.

Another-,feature relates to the provision of improved means for performing the operations of feeding, compressing, and twirling in @continuous cycle. and means for adjustby the machine. -@ther objects relate to various features of construction end larrangement, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The various features and objects of this invention will appear more fully from the following description, 'teken in connection vwith the ecooinpenying drawings, in which one. embodiment of our invention is illustrated. f 1

Int-he drawings- Figure 1 is :t side elevation of our im.- proved automatic linking'mucliine.

Fig. 2 is s top plan View of thesanie. f; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, looking tol ward the left es viewed in Fig. l with certain parts removed.

Fig. l is sectional view, teken on the line' -fi aoff- Fig. l, showing the twirling apps- Fig'. 5 is e horizontal sectional View, teken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. .6 is an enlerged diagrguninatic side elevation of the machine, illustrating the means for controlling- -tlie operation of verious ports of the apymratus. Fig. 7 is :1 vertif-.sl sectional View, taken transversely of the machine through one of' .the chambers for cleaning.;I o. twirling belt.

f Fig. S 1s a vertical section, taken longitwdinally of the machine through the device shown in Fig'. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional View,

taken on the line 9-9 of, Fig.

' Fig. 10 is e detail sectional View through l.one of the compressing elements and the adj acent feeding" belt, showing the stutled casing-.in elevation.

Fig. 11 1s o detail sectional viemtsken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 2. showing the strucfbi.

' one 'of the compressing' or constrlcting ele-v y' ture of Fig. 1 0 in elevation.

Fig. 19. shows .1 top plan view of tliesew.

sage casing afterv the same has been com pressed and befoietlie adjacent links have been rotated relatively to each other.`

F ig. 18 is o. detail sectional .view5 taken on the line 13--13 of F ig. 2, showingthe auxiliary feeding means in elevation.

Fig. lfl is zin enlarged perspective view of 1 ments.

2 Fig. 15 is en enlarged perspective View of' one of the holding elements; and.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view, teken on the line 16 16 of Fig'. 2, showingf the brake for 'controlling the operation of the feed shaft.

n, the' accompanying drawings our invention 'is illustrated as oomprising o freine having a bese Q0 carried upon the legs 20, which are adapted to ce secured to ai floor or otherv suitable support. Secured to the bose 20, sind extending upwardly therefrom at one end of the machine, an end freine 2l, having legs or side frame members 2l? and s cross member 21", end carrying et its lupper end e table. 22.' The base 9.0 also has secured thereto, and extending upwardly therefrom,

The table 25 hes secured to its upper side9v et the end opposite the space Elo, e bearing ley 29. The table also eerries tivo bearing members 80, :it the end 'thereo adjacent the space 26,.;end these bearing members have journel'ed ther-eine shaft 3l, which' luis se# Sil' lmeniber 27, carrying s stub shaft upon which is rotatably mounted e grooved pulcured.thereto'enother groei/ed. pulley 29 lou cated. in alinement with the pulley cerried. by the shalt 28.' These pulleys lieve mounted thereon the endless feed belt Z39.,

edsptedto receive e. stu'liied sausage casing and to advance the seine forwardly over the teole towerd the space 26. This belt ocinprises s leather strap 32, upon which. is lined o. resilient element 32h luwing e eoneeved, upper surface adapted to receive the stuliied sausage casing 38. and to prevent the letter from rolling ofi the loelt. This resilient ele ment muy loe formed of sections of 'rubber having :i plurality ofvtlexible tongues er;-

.tending upwsrdlyroin the strep, or any other suitable structure may be provided for the purpose of permitting o yieldin;n of the surface ol the belt when the saine is. started troni rest in order to provide e limited space ot' time in which to permit the. belt lo over como the inertia oi the stuffed saussgge ons" ing, which has previously been :it thus proventingl injury to the easing of the seusage by the starting of' the feeding ineens.

The table 22 also Curries e bearing member '27, in which is mounted e shaft bsrrying e ygrooved pulley 29 in alinement with puin leys 29 Icarried by the trible 25. end tl;

`table 22 also mirriesvtwo hearing members 30.J similar to those previously described.,

having retatively mounted vtherein another shaft 3l, on which vis fixed 'a fourth grooved.

Milf! stuffed casi-ng over the belts means has been 42 formedin the boss 39, and the bracket is ieaace or supplementary feed belt 34, which is in all respects similar in construction to the belt 32 carried above the table 25. It will be seen therefore that the sausage casing will be advanced by the belt 32 to the space 26 between. thetables, and then carried by the belt 34.' over the table22. The stuffed casing 33 is supported in its passage over the space 26 by i means .of a grooved supporting element 36 of less widthA than the smallest'sausage tofbe` twirled, which is carried by` a bracket 37 secured t0 the table 25, andthe upper grooved surface of thissupportng element is locatedv in alineinent with the .upper surfaces of the I [belts 32- and 34, so that the sausage casing each .alternate link of the sausage takes "place while the same is supported upon the I .1;V supp0rt1ngjelement36, as will be hereinafter will slide thereover` in itspassage fromone' belt tothe other. The operation of twirling described.

In order to insure a positive feed' of the 'provided to c oao't-With'the upper surface of the Vsausage as 1t moves over the'belts, so

sol

that slippingof the sausage on the belts is prevented. l One of these supplementary l feeding means, designated generally by thenumeral 38, is carried by eachof the tables `22. andx25 to' coact with the sausage casing when theA same is supported by each of- 'the belts32 and 34, and, as these auxiliary means aresimilar,one only' will be described. The

'tables are each providedwith elongated' fbos'ses 39, upon which is mounted a supporting bracket40.l This bracket has a.' depending flange 41, adapted to slide in a groove apertured to be engaged by a stud 43 which engages a locknut 44, also adapted to slidein the groove, and havingla'terally extending Aflanges 44l adapted to engage the undercut 4portions '42a of the'groove 42', whereby the bracket" and parts carried thereby are sup.

.ported in position on the boss 39, and may be adjusted longitudinally thereof by releasing the stud.43, and sliding the nut 44 longibearing member, 46, in which is journaled a vshaft 47 having fixed, thereon between the arms ofthe bracket 46 a driveA pulley 48 having a cover 48a of cellular rubber, or the like, adapted to coact with the under surface of the belt 32. This shaft also has rotatably mounted thereon two arms 49, 'terminating in the hub portions 49a., in which is rotatably mounted. a second shaft 50, carrying 'a grooved roller` 51,' which is adapted to rest upon the sausage 33 when the latter is sup?v ported upon the belt. The two shafts 47 and 50 have fixed thereon two meshing spur ygears 52, through which the roller ljis driven by the pulley 48, thus causing a un- .46, and which engages one of the arms 49.

rEhe feed belts 32 and 34, and the auxiliary feeding means driven thereby, lare actuated through the shafts 31, having secl ired thereto bevel gears 54 adapted to mesh withv other bevel gears 54a-fiXed upon the feed shaft 55. The feed shaft is in two sections, 55a and 55h, which are journaled in the bearing 56 secured to the upper surface of the table 25. The portion 55b of the feed shaft is adapted to beconstantly driven, by means to be `hereinafter described, and .it may be operativelyv connected to the portion 558L by means of a frictionclutch 57, which consists of a socket member 57a, vsecured to the shaft 55h, and a cone 57b having a driving engagement with the shaft 55a and.' adapted to be moved into Contact with the socket member 57a. This cone is 4preferably formedof aluminum, or the like, so that the momentum of the mving parts will be as smallas possible, and it is moved into and out of engagement with the socket member -57a by means of a lever 59, which is pivoted at 60 on a .bracket 61 carried by the frame 'cone 57h, and the lower end of the lever 59 is adapted to be. engaged by suitable actuating means, as will4 be hereinafter set forth.

For the purpose of causing the shaft 55a and the parts actuated thereby tocome to rest promptly after the clutch 57 has been disengaged, a brake 62 is provided, which "consists of a disk 63, keyed upon the shaft 55a and engaged on its peripheral surface by the brakestrap 64, which is formed in two portions having projectinglugs 64, which are apertured to be engaged by the bolts 65. Each of the bolts is engaged by a nut 66, and the. uppermost bolt has mounted thereon a coil spring 67,"located between the nuts 66 andthe adjacent lugs 64,

whereby the two portions of the brake strap are n'iaintained in frictional engagen'xent with thev disk. strap has projecting therefrom a flange 68 provided with a slot 69, which is adapted to receive a pin 70 carried by the bracket 71 .secured to the upper. surface of the table 25.

One of the portions of the 1n order to compress or consti-ict the stuffed sausage casing during its passage over the table 25, we have provided a pair of compressing or constricting elements' 75,' comprising pins or studs 75a which extend upwardly through the enlarged extremities 7 61 of the compressing arms 76. These arms are spacedapart and mounted upon a conipressorvsh'aft 77, which is adapted to rock about a horizontal axis in the bearing inem-V bers 78 which are secured to the upper surfaces of the tables. -Tlie hu'b 76b of each v of the arms 7 6 'is split, as shown at 76', and

provided with two'projecting ears 76, which are adapted to be engaged by the clamping Screw 78. By means ofthis screw the arms may be adjusted in their spaced relation in order to vary the length of the link sausage formed from the stuffed casing, and the arms mayalso be adjusted angularly on the shaft 77 in order to vary the degree of 'compression of the stuffed sausage casing. The

shaft-77 andthe compressing arms carried thereby are actuated through a crank arm 79,

which is secured to one end of the shaft and pivotally connected to a rod 80, which eX- tends downwardly through the table 25,. and which is slidably mounted in a bearing 81 carried -by 'the longitudinallyextending frame member 23?, which is secured at its end to the frame members 23 and 24. The

'rod 80 is actuated byimeans to be hereinafter described.

The compressing elements 75 are mounted above the belt 32, and are adapted to move downwardly theieover. rlfhe. belt is supported beneath the compressing element by means of a supporting plate 84, which is secured to the table 25 by .means of brackets 84, and which is provided with a longitudinal `groove 84a in order to reduce friotional Y contact thereof with the under surface of the belt.A Whenv the rod 8O is actuated to move thefcompressing element 75 into .engagement with the sausage casing carried upon the belt 32, the stuffed casing will be compressed between the members 75 and the belt supported by the plate 84, thus causing -the sausage to be constricted at points 33, v

as shown, for instance, in Figs. 6 and 12, and forming a link sausage between the coin,- pressiiig elements 75, this link being sepal rated from the remainder of the stuiled casthereof, so that the casing at the point of,

compression- 33, which separates the link 35 from the body of the stufed casing, will .have substantially the form shown in Fig.

l2, thus providingl a greater length ofthe unstuled casing at the point of compressing adjacent the Aouter edges 4of the st iusage,vl

where the twisting or rotation willv be"` greatest nwhen the links are Asubsequently twirled by .means to be hereinafter described.,

The lower ends 7 5" of the compressing elements are rounded ,toconform substantiallyV belt 32 so that a perfect constriction Aof the;

pressing elements are moved out ot engagement with the casing, and the feeding means is then operated to move the casing andthe links forwardly on the belts. During each operation of compressing or constricting the casing, the link 35, which has been-formed during a preceding operationy of-the compressing means and which is then supported by the supporting element 36, is being twirled by the twirling means to be hereinafter described, and, in order topermit this twirling operation tobe performed, it is desirable to hold in fixed position the link sausages 35 on each side of the one being f' twirled. For this purpose we have provided 'the holding elements 85, having lower grooved surfaces 85El adapted to conform substantially to the contour of the'link sausages carried by the belts, and having stems 85b adapted ,to be slidably mounted in the eX- ti'emities 86a of the holding arms 86, which are mounted -upon the rock shaft 77 previously described, and which are adjustable thereon by means of the locking screw 87 e'ngaging the projecting ears 86b formed on the hubs of the arms. The surfaces 852L are preferably covered with resilient" material 85 similar to the coverings of the belts 3 2 and 34. The upper ends of the lstems of the holding elements are threadedly engaged-by nuts 88, and the compressing elements 'are normally maintained in the positions illustrated particularly in Fig. 4 by means of leaf springs 89, which are apertured to beiet l engaged by the stems 85b and are secured to the under surfaces of the arms.

These lsprings 89 permit an upward movement of they holding elements with respect to 'the arms, thus preventing injury tothe links of sausage supported on the belts.- It will be seen that the arms 86 are so located on' the shaft 77 that the holding elements 85 will engage two of the links which are adjacent the i supporting element 36, preferably as near as possible to the link being twirled, so that the two links 35 at each side of the link being twirled are held securely in position beneath the holding elements while the twirling operation is being performed.

Having explained the construction of the means for eifecting the feeding, compressing, and holding operations, we will now describe the apparatus4 by which the feeding,

holding, and twirling means are operated. One end of the portion 55b of the feed shaft 55 projects beyond` the end .of the table 25 andyhassecured thereon a sprocket wheel 91 Whichjis connected by a sprocket chain 92 to another sprocket wheel 93, which is fixed upon-the drive shaft 94. This drive shaft' is journaled in thebearings 95 carried by the frame members 23 and 2.4 and is maintained Vi0 in fixed position longitudinally by means of collars 96. .A large sprocket wheel 97 is also fixed on the shaftv 94 adjacent the wheel 93, and lis connected by meansI of a sprocket chain 98 to a driving sprocket wheel 99'fiXed on the power shaft 100. The power` shaft is 'journaled inthe bear-ings 101 and 102, which are carried by the frame member v24 and thebracket' '103, respectively, the latter being 'fixed upon the base 20 atthe right of the frame member 24, as 'viewed in Fig. 1. This power' shaft 100 has keyed, or otherwise se- 1 .cured thereon, a drivingpulley 105, which is adapted to be connected by a belt to an electric motor, or other source of power, -not ,'25 .show/n.1y `It will-be apparent that the driving shaft 9 4 and the portion 55b of the feed shaft vwill be operated continuously when the pul- .ley 105 is driven by the source of vpower connected thereto. The compressing and holding apparatus and the twirling apparatus are driven intermittently from the power shaft94 by the mechanism' now to be described, j v

In order to permit a variation in the speed of operation of the holding, compressing and t-Wirling apparatus independently of the Speed of operation of the feeding apparatus, we have provided an intermediate .shaft 106, which is operativelyconnected to '40 the "driving shaft 94 by suitable change Speed-mechanism. -This intermediate shaft -106 is journaled in'bearings 107 carried by the frame members 23 and24 and is secured against longitudinal movement in its 4f, .bearing s by means of the collars 108 which are fixed thereon by pins, or the like. A. plurality of spur gears 110 are fixed on the shaft 106 between the frame members 23 and v24, these gears being of different sizes and aonumber of teeth; The shaft 94 is adapted l gto be connected to any one of the spur gears -1 10 by means'of gear-shifting mechanism, 'which comprises a. pinion 111, having a driving engagement with the shaft 94 by i 4 5 ,means of a key adapted tol slide in the keyw-ay 1112 formed in theishaft.. This pinion lll'ismounted between the two arms 113 A of a' gear-shifting lever 113, which is ro- "'.tatably mounted on the shaft 94 and which 7-l1`asjournaled therein-the two meshing pin- -zffions 114.and 115. These pinions 114 and 115 ardarranged to mesh with the pinion 111 id :with one of the spur gears 110,V respecle..heft 94, thefpinion ,115' can be moved ly, and by oscillating the lever 113 about out of engagement with any one of the spur gears 110, after which thelever 113 may be moved longitudinally ofthe shaft 94 and then adjusted to bring the pinion 115 into mesh with the desired one of the spur gears 110. The gear-shifting lever 113 may be located in 'any desiredposition by means of a plate 116, which is secured tothe table 25 and' frame -member 24 and which is prorided with a plurality 'of notches Y117, each adapted to receivethe handle of the lever 113 when the same is in a position wherein the pinion 115 meshes with one of the spur gears 110. The plate 116 is further provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting ings 118, one of which is located above each one of the notches 117, and the lever 1 13 carries a pivoted latch 119, which i carried 'by the frame members 21 and 23. -T'wo of theshafts 123 are provided, and

the gears 122 fixed thereon are connected through an idler gear 125 `wliich isfixed.

upon a stub shaft 126 journaled in af-bearmg 127 carried by the frame member 23 betwe'en the two shafts 123. By means ,of this `construction, the two shafts 123 which actuate the twirling mechanism are caused to rotate in the same direction. The shaft 123, which carries the first-.mentioned gear 122, has a bevel gear 130 fixed on the proJecting Aend thereof and arranged to mesh with another bevel geai- 131secured to the cam shaft `132 which extends transversely of the machine and is journaled in bearings 133 carried by a side frame member This cam shaft is arranged to actuate the holding, `compressing and twirling mechanism, and to control t-he vfeeding mechanism, as will be hereinafter described.

The two shafts 123 have pivotally mounted thereon. two twirling belt brackets, or frames 135, of the form shown particularly in Fig. 4, these frames being arranged to extend upwardly into the space 26 between the tables 22 and 25. Each of the frames 135 carries a counterweight 136 located below the corresponding shaft 123, and each frame comprises an arm 'l35a'extending upwardly from the shaft and carrying the bracket-portion 135b at the upper end'thereof. The parts 135a and l135b of each frame are preferably formed of aluminum in or-4 der to decrease the weight., to -reduc'e'- the I ie the supporting 'element 36., which carries the friction lbetween the frames and shafts 7.23 and thereby the tendency of the -franies to rotate with the shafts, and to permit the trainee to 7oe 'readily maintained in balanced positions by 'the connterweights 136. Each hy inea-ns of set screws 142 andlocir nuts M3. Each set of pulleys 137, 138 has mount ed thereon one of the twirling belts 144.

which-'belts are driven in. the saine direction hy means of the driving pulley 14:5 tlxed on each of the shafts 139, so that the 4vertically disposed port-ions .1M-". these'belts move in opposite directions on. opposite sides of lint'r of sausage 35 when the same is being twirled, rllhe belts 141i are covered on their outer sides with resilient coverings 14A-h. Each. of the pulleys 145 is connected by vmeans of a belt 1&6 to a pulley 14'? which is ixed upon. one of the twirling belt shafts 123. inasmuch as, the shafts 1.23 rotate in the same direction, as indicated bythearrows in. iig. s, for instance it will hel seen y that the belts 144i will be actuated in the san-1e direction as indicated. hy the arrows in Fig.

Each' oft the iframes hub portion 135% by means of 'which the fra-ntie is pivotally mounted on the corresponding shaft 128, and these huh portions 135 have secured thereto, or formed inte ,orally therewith, the actuating levers or arms 156, the inner ends of which carry vertically extending adjusting screws 151 which are' adapted to hear at their lower. ends upon a block or plate 152. carried by a bolt 153, which extends downwardly through' the end lfl of an actuating lever 154:, and is secured :in position with respect to the saineby means of the nuts 155. Thisl lever 15-l is pivotally mounted on a shaft 156 carried by .the brackets 157 which project from the middle frame member 23. The end of the lever 154, opposite the plate 152, is rovided with a roller 158, Which is adapte `to bear upon a cani 159 fixed on the caln shaft` 132, previously described. The two actuating arms 150 have connected thereto the coil springs 160 'which are attached at their other ends to the base 20, so that these springs normally tendV to. move the frames to positions wherein the twirling belts 144. will engage a link sausage of the smallest size for which the machine is designed. The loiver end of the bolt 153 has connected thereto a coil spring 161 which is attached at its other end to the base 20. Thisspring servesto nniintain'the` mossos roller 158 in. contact with. the 'cani 159 as shown, more l clearly in 'the diagrammatic View illustrated in Fig. 6. Bering' a part of the revolution of the. cani 159, the lever-154 will remain stationary while the rollerl is in contact with the portion 159" of the cam 0i larger radins. When in 4this position the platelo willbe elevated so that thefraxnes 135 will be rocked away troni the supporting elenientl upon which the linkv sausage is supportedhiring the twirling operation, bi. when the cam shaft 132 is rotated to a position wherein the roller 158 contacts Withthe portion 15W of the cani of sxnallerradiu-s, the sp1-ing 1.61 will force the plate 1524 downwardly and thnscausc the frames 135 to move toward eachother until the tnirling `belts engage the opposite sides ci" the link 35 supported on the clement 36, thercby vcausing vthat link to be rotated with respect; to the two links held hy thelioldiiig eleinents on.

each side thereof.

rlhe hub portion i135C of the l"tiaiii'ling frames also have secured thereto, Vor forrned' integrally therewith, the arrestlng'arins 162 provided on their endA portions with arcuated rpoi-turns 162 adapted to co-act with thear#l resting cams 163. These earns 163 are-fired on shafts 16s rotatably mounted 1n the upper part et a suhdrame 165', which is securedv to .the'base 20 ofthe machine.' These cams 'are` actuated to .move into and out of operative positions with respect to the arresting arms y 162 by means of the levers 166, e'achof which .135 also comprises a has one e-rniitilia apertured to be looselyen` gagcd by a pin 167 extending 'upwardly' from a lng 168 projecting 'laterally from the subframe 165. Each ofthese pins 167 is cated in adjusted position with respect to the lug 168 by n'ieans of a nuty 169, and each' pin .is further provided With two lockV nuts 170 which serve as a supportifora 'coil spring 171 mounted on the pin and arranged to engage at its upper end the'v extremity of the lever 166,' whereby the spring 171 normally tends to rock the shaft 164 and cause ,the arrcsting'caln 163 to pass into engagement withr vwith the arresting arms by means of a plate 174 which is engagedon its upper side by the two adjusting. screws 175 which threadedly engage the extremities 166l0 the levers 166. This plate 174 is carried by a rod 176, which is slidahle in bearings 177 carried by thesub frame 165. The lower end oftherod 176 carries two lool; nuts 178, an d alcoil springl is mounted on the rod 176 between these lock .nuts andthe lower bearing' 177, so that the rod 176 is normally maintained in. its lowermost position by the action 'of the spring.

The rod 176 is 4adapted tolloe moved in a direction to rotate the arresting cams 163 away from the arresting arms 162 'by a lever 180, which is pivotcd on thsslmit ixspreviously described, and which is4 provided with a slot 180a adapted 'to have a pivotal and sliding engagement with a pin 181 carried by the rod 176. This lever is provided with a roller 182 at the end thereof opposite the rod, and this roller .is adapted to bear on the peripheral surface of an actuating cam 183, which' 1s keyed or votherwise securedA be in its lowermost position, thereby permitting the levers 166 to be actuated by the springs 171,'so that the arresting cams will be moved into engagementwith the arcuate surfaces'162a of the arresting arms, and thus resist the movement of these arrestin arms away from each other about'the sha ts 123, upon which `they are mounted. When the roller 182 passes into engagement with the portion 183b of the cam having the larger radius, the rod`17 6 and plate 174 .are moved upwardly, thereby rotating the arresting cams out of engagementwith the arresting arms, so that said arms and the twirling frames will be permitted to move freelykaway from each other.

The rod 80, previously described, which controls the operation of the holding and compressing elements, is actuated by a lever ,185, which is pivoted at 186 on the intermediate frame member 23, and which is provided at its other end with a slot 185% adapted to be pivotally engaged by the pin 187'-A carried by the rod-80. The lever 185 carries a roller 188 at an intermediate point, and this roller is adapted to bear upon the peripheral surface of a cam 189,'1tixed on the cam shaft 132, the roller being maintained in", contact with the surface'of the cam by a coil spring 190 mounted on the lower end of the rod 80 between the bearing 81 and the lock nuts 191, which are xed on said rod. This caln is provided with'two portions 1891' and 189", of smaller and .larger radius, respectively, so that ata predetervmined point in the rotation of the cam against the compressionof the spring, and thereby rotate the shaft 77, thus causing the squeezing elements'75 and compressing elements 85 to be moved` into engagement with the stuffed` casing 33 carried by the feeding belt 32.

The clutch 57, by means of which the operation of the feeding'mechani'sm is con'- trolled, is actuated through the lever' 59, previously described, by means of a cam 194, fixed on the cam shaft 132, and adapted to be engaged on its peripheral surface by a roller 195 pivotally mounted onthe lower end .of the lever. This roller is normally maintained in contact with the cam. by a spring 196, which is connected to the frame- 23 and to the upper part of the lever. The cam 194 is provided with two portions194a' and 194b having different radii, so that at] predetermined points in the rotation of the cam shaft 132 the lever 59 willbe actuated to move the clutch member 57b into and out of engagement with the clutch member 57a, thus causing the feeding operation to takeA place intermittently.

In. order to -maintain the twirling belts has been pr/ovidedv for continuously cleanof, this cleaning means comprising two cas-l ings 197, which are mountedupon the portion 135b of the twirling frames, as shown in Fig. 4, These casings are preferably of the form shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, each having a detachable cover 197 and being provided with relatively narrow slots 198 in opposite faces thereof` and in proper positions to receive a belt 144 as the latter travels upon the pulleys 137 and 138. A flexible liquid supply tube 1992 leading from a suitable source of water supply, or the like, is provided with two branches 1992 which communicate with the c asings 197 and are provided with longituunder sides of thebelts 144, and located so -144 in a clean and sanitary condition, means that the thin jetsof water projected through these slots or apertures will impinge upon the lower surfaces of the belt in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the belts,- thus effecting a thorough and continuous cleaning thereof. The waste waterl passing off the belts is drained away through tubes 201.

In the operation of this improved apparatus the stuffed sausage casing is fed or placed upon the feedingbelt 32, with the end thereof beneath the .roller 51 of the auxiliary feeding apparatus 38, carried by ,the table 25; but prior to beginning the operation this auxiliary feeding apparatus is adjusted longitudinally of the table 25V by means of the bolt 43 and nut 44, so that the roller 51' is located a distance fromffhe vertical plane of the first compressing arm 76 equal to twic'e the length of the sausage links which are to be formed by the. ap-

paratus, so that if the machine be set in operation with the extremityof the casing beneaththe first roller 51. at the instant when the clutch members 57a and 571? are .operatively engaged, the casing will be fed forwardly on the belt 32 a distance equal to the length of two sausage .links before the clutch members are disengaged by the operation of ,the lcam 194.' After one operas,

tion of the feeding mechanism the extremity of the vcasing W1ll be brought to a posi` tion beneath the first compressing element 7 5 andafter two operations the casing will be brought to a position wherein the extremity is located beneath -the irst holding 'element 85.. `At the end of each feeding op'- "eration the clutch members will be disen f gaged and the brake 62 will cause the'feed- Which theycam 189 actuates the rod `80,

idle operation. Atsome suitable point in ing belts to come4 to rest promptly, after rotates the shaft 77, and passes the compressing'l or squeezing elements into engagement with the sausage casing, thereby com pressing the same' at the points 33 and forming an intermediate sausage link- 35.

After the second feeding operation the first holding element'85 will engage the extremity of the casing. After the squeezing operation has been performed by the squeezing elements, and while the same are stillin compressing position,l the twirling frames 135 will be, moved inwardly, but at this stage there is no link in position tov be twirled on the supporting element 36, and this opera.- tion of the swirling belts after the first and second feeding operations is therefore an the operation, preferably after the twirling belts have moved out of twlrling position, the cam 189 will again actuate the rod 80 to elevate the compressing elements 75 and holding elements 85.

When the sausage casing has been com.

pletely released by the compressing and holding elements, thefcam 194 will again be actuated to engage the clutch members and Cause the feeding belts to be actuated. The stuffed casing andthe links formedtherefrom will then be advanced along the belt 32 a distance equal to the length' of two sausage links,y so that the link 35, formed during the preceding operation of the corniv pressing elements, will then occupy a position on the supporting element 36 above the space 26 between the two tables. TWhen this feeding operation-*has been completed and the clutch member disengaged by kthe carni l- 194, the shaft 77 will again be actuated by ward each othen under the influence of the coil springs 169. The twirling frames are so balanced that the portions 144 of the twirlingbelts will engage the lateral edges of the links and the resilient coverings 144b of the twirling'belts will cause them to grip the link and overcome its inertia, without injuring the`I easing. An instantaneous rebound' of the twirling 'belts and frames away from the link after the initial Contact therewith is preventedby the arresting cams 163, which are moved into engagement with the arresting arms 162 by the operation of lthe cam 183 during or just prior to the movement of the twirlingframes' inwardly toward each other. At the instant after the twirlin belts initially engage the opposite sides o the link, these arresting cams bearing on the arcuate surfaces 162a will prevent` a momentary movement of the belts awayr from the easing, owing to the resistance which these cams oppose to the movement of the arms away from each other, as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 9. The twirling belts, being thus resiliently maintained in contact with'the link 35 after the initial engagement'therewith., will rotate the same about its longitudinal axis. When this twirling operation has been 'carried out to the extent desired, the cam `159 will aetuate thellever 154 and move the twirling-belts out of contact with the link 35; but prior to this operation of the canrlfandi'iust before ythe completion of the"tw1rlmgf;.opera tion, the cam 183 will actuate the rod 176 Sti' and move the arresting cams 163 out. of enp 7gagement withthe arresting arms 162, so

that the oppositely disposed twirling frames will be permitted to move freely away-'from each other. When the twirlingjbeltshave passed completely out of engagement with the link .35 which has been twirled, or during the latter twirling be rod 80 and the shaft 77 to ymove the comn pressing elements75 and holding elements 85' out of engagement with the stuffed casing and the links formed tl'lerefrom.' Afgortion of this movementof the ts, the cam 189 ywill actuate the` ter-the last-mentioned operation has been performed by the cam 189,4 the cam 194vwill again actuate the clutch members and cause the feeding mechanism to operate, so` that the stuffed. sausage casing and the links will be advanced longitudinally by the belts 82 and 34 and the auxiliary feeding devices 38.

ln this way the cyclev of operations is repeated continuously, and each alternate link is twirled to form a permanent separatibn between it and the othervlinks, without'the necessity of manual operation or attention.

"if desired, the completed links may be removed froni tliebelt 34 to a suitable smoking device, or other means forl treating the sausages.

Then the operator desires to vary the length of the link sausages formed by the apparatus, thecompressing arms 76 may be adjustedin their spaced relation onthe shaft 77, and they may also be adjusted in their angular position in order to operate tab l formed upon stuffed casings of different size'or thickness; the holdlng arms carrying the holding elements 85 angularly and longitudinally on the shaft 77', in ordei to operate properly upon links of varying size at each side of the link being twirled. Having varied thejcompressing and holding arms in their positions on the shaft 77, the speedof operation of the comf pressing, holding, twirling, and arresting means may be varied tocorrespond to the different sizes of links formed, b y manipulating the lever 113 in the spur :gears 110 which are mountedpon theshaft 106. It will be seen that the numvberl of different lengths of link sausages which may be formed by the apparatus will correspond to the number of spur gears 110 which are mountedon the shaft 106. By means of Athis adjustment, the holding, cornpressing, and twirling means may be timed to operate properly for various sizes of links from the varying the angular position cams used, other adjustments inthe operation may be made. -Itwill be miderstoody that, unless the speed of the power shaft 100 be altered, the inear speed of the feeding belts 32 and 34 will be'tliesame regardless of the length of of the Various the. l-1nk sausages being formed by the appa- 5 `ratus', Ibut'it will also. be apparent .that the clutch by which theifeeding mechanism is l controlled is operated 'from the cam shaft 132, the speed of which varies according to the speed Iof the intermediate shaft 106 and the speed of operation of the oldlng, compressing, and twirling devices. In this Way the frequency of the operations of the clutch 57 bears the same relative proportion to the frequency of' the operations of the compressing, holding, and twirling-devices regardless of the length of the links 4 tion of the holding, compresslng, and twirll ing devices `will vary as compared with the The filled sausage casing' is always ad-v ,va'nced forwardly :the same velocity,

0n the feeding `belts with but 'the ,duration of the ceding operatienand the lengthl of the saumay also Ibe adjusted 'tion between the order to cause the `pinion 115 to'engage any desired onev of engaged, and it stuffed sausage casing. By'- or the construction of the cams,-

- movement of the sing formed, althou'gh the speed of opera-.

the different parts"- f reduced from sage links to be formed is determined by a cam, which actuates aclutch to engage and disengage the feeding means at thc proper intervals of time. The constricting, holding, and twirling means are also actuated by cams mounted on the same shaft with the feeding cam and these cams have permanent proportions which insure a permanenti rela-A feeding, constricting, holding, and twirling operations within one cycle of. operations, but, the cam shaft being drlven. by means, the speed of which may be varled, it is possible to change the number of cycles per unit of time and to effect a corresponding change in the len h of the sausage links. For example, if t le feeder belts be actuated with a constant velocity of 960 inches per minute and the feeder cam be of such shape that during fifty percent. of its revolution, it will keep the clutch 57 be 'assumed that the cam actuating the twirling frames be suchias to keepl the twirling belts engaged with the links duringr thirty 'per cent. of a revolution of the cam shaft, if twentyvper cent. of a revolution of the cam shaft be taken up by t e operations of the cam levers and the arresting means; it be further' assumed that the cam shaft makes 96 revolutions per minuate and that the gearing and pulleys are of such proportions as to give the twirling belts a corresponding linear velocity of 1508 inches per minute, the result will be that the clutch 57 is engaged during half of eachy revolution of the cam shaft, or for a period of l-/192 of a minute; the feeder belts having a' velocity of 960 inches per minute will then feed the stuffed casing a distance equal to 960 divided by 192, or five inches, whichwill be equal to twice the length of the sausage links as above explained` the constricting means being thenA 2% inches apart; when the feeder belts 'stop, the twirling frames come into action and will 'keep the twirling` belts in contact with the link to be twirled during thirty per cent. of a revolution ofthe ca m shaft, and since these belts inches per minute, they will remain in cona distance equalto 1/96 .30 1508 or 4.71 mches, so that if the'link has a diameter of and if i three-fourths of an inch, it will make 4.71

divided by .75s, or two revolutions, that is,

the link will be twisted twice around. If

the link is ofa smaller diameter, the belts i will be in contact with it for a shorter time, but slne the circumference is also smaller, the perlod of contact and the number of the twisting of the links will remainthe same; and this is also true if the links be' larger in chameter. If it now be assumed that the number of revolutions of the cam shaft be; 9 6to 48, the feeder belt willA 115 tact with the link while they pass-through i Y tinuously would lWear out the casing at the y feed, during every turn of the ,feeder cam,

a ylength of stuifed casing equal to 1/48 .5)(960, or 10 inches, corresponding to two t links of sausage with the constricting'arm' set'live inches apart. Since the relationof Athe gearing `of the twirling belts is constant, andthe cam from which the'movement of'y the/belts is derived will now make half as many revolutions as before, the linear velocity of the vtwirling belts will be half of ,what it was before, or-754 inches p'er minute. The twirling belts arev kept in contact .with the link thirty per cent. of the revolution of the cam shaft and consequently the period of contact .with the link will be l/48X.30 754, or 4.71 inches, the same as before. The 'links will therefore be twisted twice around no matter what Athe angular velocity of the cam Shaft is, so that by varying the speed of the cam shaft and thereby varying the number of cycles ofthe machine per unit of time, we arel able to change the length and the number of sausage links formed per unit of time. The larger the link .is,'the slower it will be twi-rled, which is a desirable conditionas it insures a simultaneous turning of both ends of the link together with that portion of it which is immediately acted upon by the twirling belts.

An important feature of the invention is' the provision of elastic coverings, or outer coatings, for vthe twirling belts as well as for the feeding members which engage' the I sausage casing. If the belts werenot pro-.

vided with this elastic covering, it would be necessary 'for them to penetrate the stuiied casing'to a certain depth to insure sufficient friction to overcome the inertia of the stuffed cas1ng, and while penetrating thc linkyto this depth, the belts running consurface of contact, and if the beltsovere suddenly brought into contact with the link,j

I .with considerablespeed. The elastic covering will btiardedrelatively to the latter operation of the -belt from the" instant of cmntacty of the belt ,with-the stuffed casing until' the inertia of 'the link vis overcome,

' thus greatly-reducing the amount of'sliding 1 on the casing, land with it the danifofgits being'torn open.

l*Owing to v he novel` construction and ar.-

, rangement kofthe twirl'i'ng devices, these de.-

e range of Vthicknesses forwhich the machine, is designed, thus taking aceeunt of ahejvarylngwthiekness of la' stuffedl sausage ank veumispoins througliue its length, @kinglft possibleto A'use a vsingle ma'- ces. will .operate rperfectly upon. sausage. mks of :substantially any thickness .wi-thiny 1. In apparatus ,of

thickness and of different lengths as above explained. Since the inertia of the twirling devices is relatively small, and since"they are sensitively adjusted to be actuated by the coil springs 160, itI will be seen that when the twirling frames are released by lthe operation of the cam 159, these-springs will move theftwirling frames inwardly until the twirling` belts engage the sausage link onA the elementl 36 in position to be twrled. These springs are formed .lof the `proper strength to mo've the twirling ,frames inwardly until the' twirling beltswill en. gage', with'the proper pressure for the'twirlf ing operation, a link ofthe smallest 'thickr ness or diameter for which the machine, is designed, so that the belts will engage sau- 'sages of somewhat larger diameter with a Apressure adapted. to effect the twirling'op- -eration but not so strong as to cause an in- Adentation of the links or injury to the casings thereof. The tendency of the frames tomove away from the link immediately after the initlal contact therewithl under theiniiuence of the springs 160is overcome by means of the. automatically actuated arresting mechanism previously described.

The operation of the twirling mechanism may be adjusted independently by means of the adjusting 'screws 151 passing through the arms 150, by which the twirling frames areactuated, and thetwirling belts may be maintained in a taut condition by adjusting,

`.the screws 142. The operation of the ar'- resting mechanism may also be adjusted inj dependently by means of the screws 17 5 passing throughl the levers 166 which `ae-` tuate the arresting cams. novel construction and wide adj ustability ot the various parts of this apparatus, it may 'Owing to the be caused t o operate perfectly uponstuied". y sausage casmgs ot' widely different sizes and of irregular cross sections. A particular ad vantage of the mechanism is that it is automatically maintained in a Clean and sanitary condition even when in continuous use, and a further important feature is the fact that the twirling apparatus 'operates upon links of substantially any size and of irregular cross section withoutfcausing injury to the casing 'of the sausage. Although @we have'shown and-described a particular embodiment of our invention for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that it may be'constructed'in widely diferentforms Without departing from the asjfdened in the means forconstricting a filled 'sausage casing and forming the same, into links, and twirling means ,operated-while said constrlctmg means 'is' engaging said casina for lessees each of' said twirling elements, and resilient I means for moving each of said supporting means to cause said twirling elements to engage links of different size with substantially lequal pressure.

4. In 'apparatnso the class described, means for forming a filled sausage casing.,T into-a series'of connected links, resiliently mounted twirling means movable into en- 25 means away from said links gagement with said links,

and means for preventing a movement of said twirling immediately ai:-

' ter engagement therewith.

laol

.5. In apparatus means for forming a filled sausage casing into a series of connected links, means for moving said links longitudinally. twi-rling elements mounted on opposite sides of the of the .class described,

' path of said links, means formoving said twirling elements automatically into engagement withsaid links to engage links of. different size with substantially equal pressure, and means foi-'operating said twirling elements..

6. In apparatus of' the class described,

means for forming a filled sausage casing into a series of connected links, resiliently mounted twirling means movable into engagement with said links, and cam actuated arresting means for opposing the movement 'of s'aid twirling means away from said links limmediately after engagement tlierewith-` In apparatus of the class described,

f means for feeding a'illed'sausage casing in the direction of its longitudinal axis, means or compressing said filled casing at intervals, andeans for effecting a relative rotation thereafter of the parts of said filled casing at each vside of each point ot' compression, said rotating means being operated after said compressing means has released said casing.

8. 'In apparatus of the class described, feeding means for advancing'a filled sausage easingr in the direction of its longitudinal axis, compressing means arranged to engage said filled casing at spaced intervals to form the same into links, means independent ot' said compressing means for holding alternate links` and means fortwl'ling the link between those being held.

`in the direction of its longitudinal axis,

9. In apparatus of the class described, feeding means for advancing a filled sausage casing in the direction of its longitudinal axis, compressingv means arranged to' engage said filled casing at spaced intervals to forni the saine into links, means separate. from said compressing means for holding alternate links, means for twirling the link between those being held, means foroperating said feeding means intermittently, and means for operating said compressing. holding, and 'twirling means intermittently in alternation with the operation of said feeding means.

l0. In apparatus of the class described, means for feeding a filled sausage casing in the direction oi' its longitudinal axis, means for compressing said filled easing at spaced intervals to forni the same into links, means ently of said feeding means.-

1l. In apparatus of the class described,

means for advancing a compressible article constricting means for engaging said article at twoV points spaced apart for forming a link, means for operating said first-named means after said consti-loting means has operated, and means operated while said first-named means is at rest for twii'ling during a stricting means. l2. In-apparatus of the class described, means for forming a compressible article into a series of' connected links, twirlin means for effecting a relative rotation of adjacent links about a longitudinal axis, means `for moving said twirling means into engagement with said article, the operation of said last named means being automatically adjusted by the thickness of said article,- and arresting means for preventing a return movement of said twirling means immediately after it. engages said article.

13. In apparatus of theclass described, means for torn-ling a 'compressible article into a series of connected links, twirling means for eifecting a relative rotation of adjacent links about a longitudinal axis, means for moving said twirling means into engagement with said article, the inward movement of said tnl'irling means being automatically adjusted by the sizeof said article, arresting means for preventing a return movement of said twirling means immediately after it engages said article, means for moving said twirling means out oi contact `Vith said article, and means for rendering saidarresting means inoperative when said lastnamed means is operated.

In apparatus of the class described, means for forming a filled sausage casing into a series of ,connected links, twirling a link formed' preceding operation of said con-- means for effecting a relative rotation o adljacent links about a longitudinal axis, cam

'i actuated means for operating said rstenamed nieans for forming a -filled sausage casing yinto a series' of connected links, means. for 'holding alternate links in a stationary position, oppositely disposed resiliently actuated 4 twirling means arranged to engage an intermediate vlink for. rotating the same, and

means to move Vsaid twirling means into and' out of engagement .with lsaid intermediate link; I

116. ln apparatus of the class described,

means -for forming aflled sausage casing rate from said first-named vtiti means for forming a illed `sausage casing' into a series of connected links, means meansv for hold alternate links-in a stationary position, L positely into and out of engagement Withsaid inter. mediate link, and means for advancing said 'links when said twirling means and said holding means are not in operation.

17. lnapparatus of the class described,

means for' forming a compressible article into a series of connected links, oppositely disposed twirling elements arranged to engage opposite sides of one of said links, means; for moving said twirling elements in opposite directions, and means for moving i said twirling elements into and out of `engagement with said link, the movement -of said twirling 'elements toward said link beinfr Aautomatically adpisted by the size of.

' said link.

18. In apparatus of the' class described,

means Jfor forming a intol aseries of connected links, oppositely disposed twirling elements arranged to en gage opposite sides ot one of saidI links, means for movincv said twirling elements in opposite directions, meansfor moving said `twirling elements into and out of engagement with saidv link, and means movablel with said elements for Washino' said twirling elements.

19. In apparatus ofthe class described,

into-a series of connected-links, oppositely disposed vtivirling elementsarra'nged to engage opposite sides ci one of said links, means for moving said twirling elements in opposite directions, means for moving said twirling elements into and out of engagement with said link, arresting means for controlling the movement of. said twirling elements toward and away from said link, and means Mfor .automatically-. actuating arresting means.'

, disposed twirling means arrange-:d to; engage an intermediate link for rotating the: same, means to move said t-Wirling meansilled sausage casing.

Lacasse 20. ln apparatus et the class described,I feeding means for advancing@ filled sausage casing "in the direction of its longitndinal axis, means forl intermittently actuating said fw .-eedingmeana means actuated when said 10l feeding means is not'in operation4 for comw pressing said lilled casing "at spaced intervals to form an intermediate link, means for holding said filled casing on'opposite'gsides of an intermediate link ormedriv a preceding operation of sai-d compressing meansand means for twirling said link 'formed by a preceding; operation of said compressingv means,saidjeedingmeans being rendered operative after 'said twirlin'g operation has been completed. I l

2L-napparatus of the class described, 'means for lfeed-ingy a -lled sausage casing in i the direction. 'of its longitudinal axis, come4 pressing elements jforengaging said casing to constrictthe saine, means for 'intermittently operating said conStrict-ing' meana'in yalternation with the 'operation ot said feedingmeans, means for varying the spaced refy lation i said v1f.eonipressing elements, and 90 twirling means. operating while saidV compressing elements are in ope-ration for tivirl L ing a link formed by a preceding operation ci' said compressing elements.

22. ln apparatus of lthe class described, a movable member for supporting and ad- 1 vancing affilled sausagecasingsaid mern-v bei'fhaving aflexible partin contact With i said casing, and means movable into contact withk saidcasing for constricting the-V 'same by compressing Eit against said member. Y 23. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of pulleys, a-beltfmounted on said pulleys to move-in horizontal planes therebetween, said belt comprising a resilient part adapted toengage and .support a filled sau,.. sage casing,and, means for' actuating one of f said pulleys.

24. In. apparatus of theclass described, 'a pair of pulleys, a belt Inminte'd onl said pull'eys to move in 4asubstantially v'horizontal planes therebetween, means for actuating one 'A ,belt and arranged to ngage'the upper side of said lilling casing; 'j 25;- yIn apparatus' of the' class described, a pair of pulleys', a Ibelt mounted on saidpulleys` to move l"in substantially horizontal planes "therebetween, "means for actuating l oneof-said pulleys, saidbelt bein'garranged to support iand lfeed apiilled sausage casing, i 4and auxiliarymeans actuated bysaidfbelt u and arrangedtoengage theuppenside'o 125 said filled casingl'said auxiliary means hav 4ing a resilient partin contact withy saidfcas:

i auxiliary 'feeding-'means actuated by 'saidkll y 

